31 - 40 of 46 Comments

1. Deacon Roy Harrington

   2 years ago

   Brother Deacon Keith: Any thoughts on the clerical implications of these actions for those of us who have been faithfully practicing cradle Catholics now serving the Church as permanent deacons? Thanks.
   
   Deacon Roy Harrington, Seattle

2. Joe Farah

   2 years ago

   John, what do your surveys say about whether or not Sunday Mass should be an obligation? Or whether or not Fasting on Fridays in Lent is required? Yes these are different - doctrine/dogma - but similar percentages from the surveys indicate that most Catholics are not yet evangelized. It's not that they are dissenters. Tell me, what are the percentages when the question is posed to Catholics who have had a true epiphany of their faith, that is, those who have a close, personal relationship with Jesus, and with His Church?

3. John

   2 years ago

   Jason, discussing the merits of a married priesthood is not dissension. Celibacy is not a matter of doctrine or dogma. Many of the magisterium, bishops and cardinals, over the last few decades have asked for this discussion. Catholic surveys have consistently revealed that around 75-80 percent of Catholics (Sensus Fidelium) would be in favor of some form of married priesthood. Are 80 percent dissenters or genuine Catholics who are Spirit led? Pope John Paul II even said (in deference to our united Eastern Rite priests) that celibacy is not instrinsic to the priesthood. Celibacy IS a great gift to the priesthood and the Church. My point is that it is not the ONLY way a priest is called serve and attain holiness. Marriage too is an equal though different call to holiness from which a priest can serve with great compassion and witness.
   
   And yes, both are vocations. But both vocations are not meant to be lived inwardly, but outwardly in service to the Church. Both are referred to as Sacraments of service. A married priest is called to love and serve the people of God from out of the gifts and strengths of the sacrament of marriage that empower him to love more authentically and unselfeshly. I would rather have holy priests who can love others well, be they married or celibate, than no priests at all (which is where some parts of the Church is headed).
   

4. Nana

   2 years ago

   I don't agree with the fact that married people love one person, while priests love more people! Except where there are no children, married people love their childred and other family members, and as christians many others they sometimes share their home with. The HOME infact is the first CHURCH, and the early christains even had house churches. If the home is not Christian enough to bring up good christian children the priest can do very little. Allow the priests who want to marry to do so, because St. paul tells us that it is better to marry than to burn with passion! The abuse that went on in the Church in the past which is being brought out in the open should be an eye-opener! Let those who want to marry, but don't also force does who want to be celibate to marry! Welcoming our Anglican and Lutheran brothers into the priesthood is a step in the right direction. Perhaps the church should also consider other people with theology background from protestant institutions for ordination!

5. Cliff

   2 years ago

   Kerstin, you ask a good question why we are still separated. Catholics and the Catholic Church have come a long way in recognizing the truths that Luther taught. Today's RCC would hardly be recognizable from the Church of Luthers day.yes, indeed, Luther may have even chosen the RCC over some of his liberal counterparts in todays era. The question then becomes, Kerstin, why has Luther not been declared a father of the RCC??
   
   Jason, you come across as a condescending person, who really has a difficult time with understanding the work of the Holy Spirit. God will indeed Bless his Holy, catholic, orthodox church. Notice I have removed the "One"?
   
   Jason, you also are fanning the flames of antagonizing of the reformation. You know what the reformers said about the Catholic Church? "It is steeped in error and beyond correction." Hopefully, reason will prevail over emotion in our educated age, and we will not have to resort to this kind of language.
   

6. Jason

   2 years ago

   Dear Jessica,
   You are not confused at all. An obedient heart is an open door for the Holy Ghost to come in and provide understanding and wisdom. For the dissident heart, the opposite. God bless you.

7. Jessica

   2 years ago

   I am confused. Marriage and Holy Orders are two separate vocations and sacraments. What is the purpose in combining the two? In being celibate, I feel that priests are sacrificing one particular life for the complete service to God. While married life is a different vocation and very much important one, the individuals who choose the latter have now promised to devote their lives to one another, not to all people; whereas the duty of a priest is to be in persona Christi to all people. I have always viewed a priest or any religious life as seeing love in the face of everyone they meet on a daily basis whereas marriage is taking that same perspective for one other person only. It just seems to me that there are far too many obligations to both sacraments for them to be combined.

8. Bulbajer

   2 years ago

   John, I agree.

9. Ray Marshall

   2 years ago

   I don't know the date, at least ten years, but there is a pastor of a parish in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis who was an ordained Lutheran minister and became a Catholic priest. He is married with children and serves in a small town to the west of Minneapolis. He did appear with the story of his faith journey on March Grodi's "Journey Home" show on EWTN.
   
   Father Richard John Neuhaus was also a Lutheran minister but he never married. He died recently.
   
   I'm sure there are many more.

10. Jason

    2 years ago

    I am tired of the dissenters blathering on about allowing priests to marry. I tire of them because they are exceedingly tiresome, but I won't tire of opposing them.
    
    Please consider a protestant denomination where anything goes and leave the Catholic priesthood alone. Or better, study DEEPLY and PRAYERFULLY the Church's teaching on the celibate priesthood before you spout off.
    
    As for "hard core lutherans" and their "birthright", nobody can force you to come out of the dark. Your birthright, after all, was founded by an apostate Catholic priest.
    
    May God continue to bless his One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

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